1 FROM ONE GENERATION TO THE NEXT
2 From the Head Throughout the years, many generous individuals have chosen to include Abingdon in their wills. Their bequests have had a tremendous impact by providing land, buildings, and bursaries, helping shape the school we know today. We invite you to join this enduring tradition of generosity. By leaving a legacy, you can help sustain and enhance the opportunities and excellence we strive to offer for future generations. Mike Windsor, Head ‘Legacies will enable us to be more generous with the opportunities and excellence we have here.’
3 ...you can contribute to the future of this inspirational school. ‘Whether you decide to direct your support to bursaries, as I have, or whether you are happy for it to be used as an unrestricted gift, you will be making an invaluable contribution to the future of this inspirational school. Moreover, membership of The 1563 Society will enable you, during your lifetime, to stay in close touch with the school as well as your fellow legators: it is a thriving community.’ Chris Pickup (1960) Chair of the 1563 Society
4 Legacies: fundamental The earliest document relating to the existence of what became Abingdon School dates from 1256 when John de Blosneville, Abbot of Abingdon Abbey, left a bequest for the support of thirteen poor scholars. Just over 300 years later, in 1563, John Roysse re-endowed the school as a new foundation following the dissolution of the Abbey under Henry VIII. Roysse’s endowment included property in the City of London, the income from which helped finance the school for the next 300 years. Sold in 1868, the proceeds underpinned the funding and construction of the present school. However, our benefactors are by no means only historic: Richard Cox (1934), Hugh Leach (1953), Nigel Hammond (1957) and Peter Kandiah (1959) have all left substantial bequests to the school in recent years. Like many others before and since, they wanted to acknowledge the benefit they received from an Abingdon education and by doing so contribute to its future. Our community of benefactors also extends beyond those who attended the school. Mathematician, businessman and Abingdon parent Professor Michael Walker OBE, (Martin (2001) Alan (1995)), was married to Veronica, Abingdon’s Head of Modern Languages, who sadly died in 2009. When Michael passed away in 2018, a legacy from his estate provided for the support of a future Abingdon pupil in the name of the Walker family. Veronica and the boys had loved their time at Abingdon; through Michael’s generosity, another family’s son was able to experience the life opportunities offered by an Abingdon education.
5 There are currently 71 pupils at the school whose places were made possible by means-tested bursaries funded in part by legacy gifts, with 22 of these pupils receiving a full bursary.
6 I will continue to be grateful all my life Receiving a bursary to go to Abingdon School afforded me the opportunity to be part of a warm and enriching community which profoundly impacted both my academic and personal growth. This financial support not only allowed me to focus on my studies, but gave me the chance to experience and fully immerse myself in a multitude of subjects and activities I would have never thought of pursuing or trying. For me, however, it is sport that fostered a true sense of belonging in Abingdon School. I will always treasure the friendships and memories I made on various teams throughout Abingdon, but also the support of the teachers and coaches who really nurtured my development as an athlete through our passion for sport. Alongside sport, Abingdon’s Other Half allowed me to take up computing, a subject outside the scope of what I was studying at the time but an experience that has led me to pursue Computer Science at university. I am thankful that through the kindness of benefactors I have been able to go to Abingdon as it has shaped the person I am today. Joshua Mensah (2023)
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8 Legacies: future impact The ambition to widen access to an Abingdon education through meanstested bursaries is at the heart of our philanthropy. Abingdon has always provided free and assisted places and this is still central to our ethos today; a school providing a first class education for bright young people from all backgrounds - regardless of financial circumstances. Our ambition is to support up to one in 10 students with means-tested bursary awards. Thanks to a sustained increase in donations from OAs, parents, staff, governors and friends of the school we are well on the way to achieving this. Bequests from legacies are a crucial part of the fundraising strategy that will get us to our goal. Every new legacy pledge helps Abingdon ensure that our bursary provision is resilient and that we can support more young people who need a bursary to take up their offer of a place at Abingdon. Whether you choose to leave a bequest to the school as an unrestricted gift in your will, to support bursaries, or for a specific area of school life, we recognise that this is an important decision. We would welcome a discussion at any time if you would find this helpful, so please do get in touch.
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10 The 1563 Society The 1563 Society is one important way in which Abingdon shows gratitude to those who have pledged a legacy. We hold an annual 1563 Society event at Abingdon for members and their guests. We also invite society members to other school events over the year, and keep them informed of strategic developments at Abingdon. In short, the 1563 Society is an important community of supporters and provides the opportunity for members to develop a close relationship with the Abingdon of today. In recognition of membership of the 1563 Society, we give members a set of bespoke cufflinks or, if preferred, a pendant of the same design. We are proud of the close ties we have with those who support us and we actively encourage 1563 Society members to visit us at Abingdon. The Society is keen to welcome new members. • Make a significant and lasting impact on the lives of future Abingdonians without impacting on your current financial capacity. • Be welcomed into a proactive community of OAs and friends who are deeply invested in the long-term future and historic legacy of the Abingdon Foundation. • Your legacy is acknowledged and celebrated in your lifetime. John Roysse,1500 -1571, a benefactor at a key moment in the school’s history.
11 When you decide to include Abingdon in your will you join a growing community who share a deep interest in Abingdon’s future. Alan Aitchison (1958) Mike Arundel (1966) Clyde Aylin (1952) Arnaud Barge (Partner of OA) David Blomley (1976) David Brice (1961) John Bunce (1962) Adrian Burn (1963) Glynne Butt (Parent of OA) Henry Carter (2006)* Diana Cobban May (Honorary OA) Bryan Costin (1955) Noel Crosse (1972) Ken Cuthbert (1969) Tony Edwards (1962) Paul Evans (1975) Ted Evelegh (1980) Mike Farwell (Parent of OA) Alison Farwell (Parent of OA) Beryl Gingell (Widow of OA) Jonathan Grosvenor (1979) Simon Hills (1975)* Charlie Hobson (1976) Justin Hodges (1989)* Anne Iredale (Parent of OA) Adam Jenkins (1993) Ian Lamberton (1965) Bruce Mackay (1964) Michael Matthews (1952) Neil McGowan-Docherty (1968) Jim Milne (1960) Gareth Morris (1976) Gerald Nicholls (1952) Chris Pickup (1960)* David Ray (1966) Felicity Rutland (Honorary OA) Kevin Senior (Governor) Olga Senior (Former Governor) Norman Shurrock (1953) Brian Smith (1957) Anne Smithson (Former staff) Mike Stevens (1968) John Walker (1970)* Chris Webb (1961) Simon Wilden (1982) Brenda Williams (Partner of OA) Alan Williams (1965)* Helen Wood (Friend of Abingdon School) Martin Woodgett (Honorary OA) Cyril Woodruff (1956) Patrick Wyatt (1959) Anonymous (1947) Anonymous (1952) Anonymous (1962) Anonymous (1963) Anonymous (1967) Anonymous (1977) Anonymous (1981) Anonymous (1989) Anonymous (Partner of OA) Anonymous (Widow of OA) Anonymous (Widow of OA) The 1563 Society is a way for the school to recognise the generosity of those who have included the school in their wills. Regular Society events provide opportunities for legators to find out more about the school’s plans and to meet the students and staff - in short to feel better connected to the Abingdon of today. ...providing funded places remains a priority to this day. * members of the 1563 Society Committee
12 A natural decision Abingdon has provided a first class education for thousands of boys down the generations and has always promoted the belief that those educated here have a role to play in society. I was lucky enough to benefit from the Direct Grant scheme. That scheme has long been abolished, but Abingdon has established a bursary scheme that enables help to be given to able students who, without that help, would not be able to accept a place at the school. I have no doubt that Abingdon stretched and challenged me. Good teaching, numerous extra-curricular activities including sport, drama, music, debating and the CCF, together with a truly inspiring Headmaster, held me in good stead for the rest of my life. Alan Williams OA (1965) Having gained so much from Abingdon, I firmly believe that future generations should have access to the sort of education I enjoyed. Including Abingdon in my will is an obvious and natural way to contribute to this.
13 A point in life ‘... the school was a positive force for social mobility and I want it to remain so.’ I enjoyed my time at school. It gave me a great start and it is still very much part of my ‘brand’. I benefitted from the Direct Grant Scheme, as did many of my contemporaries. Then the school was a positive force for social mobility and I want it to remain so. I feel strongly about access to quality education for all, so the decision to include Abingdon in my will came naturally. I am happy that when the time comes Abingdon will use my legacy to give other students the opportunities I experienced over fifty years ago. Simon Hills (1975)
14 An important word about tax Choosing the right type of legacy Abingdon School is a registered charity (1071298), so all legacies made to the school are exempt from UK Inheritance and Capital Gains Taxes. Under current rules, if you leave 10% or more of your chargeable net estate to charity, the Inheritance Tax rate on the whole of your taxable estate is reduced from 40% to 36%. Residuary Bequests This allows you to leave the remainder of your estate, or a percentage of it, to a beneficiary such as Abingdon, after all other specific bequests and expenses have been settled. Residuary bequests are often the most significant type of legacy, and will ensure that, as your estate grows over time, so too does your gift to Abingdon. Pecuniary Bequests This involves leaving a specific sum of money in your will. To ensure that this sum retains its value over time, you might consider linking it to inflation. Reversionary Bequests In this arrangement, your assets are entrusted to trustees. Your family members or other beneficiaries receive income from these assets during their lifetime, with all or part of the capital eventually passing to Abingdon after their deaths. Conditional Bequests These bequests specify that should none of your named dependents survive you, your estate will go to other beneficiaries, which can include charities like Abingdon.
15 Next steps Specific Bequests This involves leaving non-monetary assets, such as shares, property, or valuable items like artwork, to a beneficiary. Important Advice Drafting a will is a significant and often complex task. It is advisable to seek independent legal advice to ensure your wishes are clearly and correctly expressed. Every November, you can take advantage of the Will Aid initiative, where participating local solicitors offer their services for creating a will. Instead of paying the usual solicitor’s fee, you are encouraged to donate to one of seven leading charities. The suggested donation is £100 for a basic will or £180 for a pair of basic mirror wills. As always, it’s a good idea to check current details and donation amounts, as they may be updated over time. ‘Our sons had a wonderful time at Abingdon. Their academic experience was fantastic, and they have now embarked on successful financial careers. Their participation in the school’s magnificent Other Half programme also gave them (and us!) much pleasure, competing in sports at national trials and national levels. So we decided to amend our wills to provide a legacy for the school to help sustain its sporting excellence.’ Mike Farwell, Governor If you have already included Abingdon in your will, or intend to do so, please tell us and complete the legacy pledge form online at connect.abingdon.org.uk/pages/ legacies Do get in touch directly. We would be happy to discuss your ideas and plans with you.
16 ‘The greatest and last social blunder is for anyone over the age of 21 to die without making a will.’ From ‘How to Do It’ by Sir James Cobban, Headmaster of Abingdon School 1947-1970 Development Office Abingdon School Park Road Abingdon Oxfordshire OX14 1DE [email protected] +44 (0)1235 849107 Abingdon School: A company limited by guarantee. Registered in England and Wales. Company No 3625063 Registered Office: Park Road, Abingdon, Oxfordshire OX14 1DE United Kingdom Registered Charity Number: 1071298
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